Printing device for lumber



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Jam, H936. H H, PAYZANT PRINTING DEVICE FOR LUMBER Filed Dec.

5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmmnto e Jam. F 136. HH, PAYZANT QUZZWE? PRINTING DEVICE FOR LUMBER I Filed Dec. 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 k gmnnfo'ia Jan, 7, 1936. H. H. PAYZANT 9 v PRINTING DEVICE FOR LUMBER Filed D80. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W JWM Jan. 7,19%.

H. H. PAYZANT PRINTING DEVICE FOR LUMBER Filed Dec.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 QWM CML T N A Z Y A P H H Jan. 7, 1936.

PRINTING DEVICE FOR LUMBER Filed Dec 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING DEVICE FOR LUMBER Application December 5, 1931, Serial Ne. 579,214

14 Claims.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel and efficient printing mechanism for printing on vertical surfaces of lumber.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of this kind, improved mechanism for uniformly distributing printing fluid on a rotary die, the device including mechanism for accurately adjusting the quantity or rate of supply of printing fluid to the die.

Another object is to provide, in a device of this kind, driving mechanism operable in timed relation to a lumber conveyor whereby proper placing of the impression on the lumber is insured.

A still further object is to provide driving connections between the lumber conveyor and printing mechanism which are adjustable to adapt the device to print uniformly on predetermined portions of the surfaces to be marked where the sizes or dimensions of the several pieces of lumber to be marked vary.

The invention also includes certain other novel features of construction which will be more fully pointed out in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved printing device mounted on a lumber conveyor with a portion of the conveyor illustrated in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, as seen from the right of Fig. 1, and showing the adja cent portion of the lumber support and conveyor;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device with the casing cover or cap removed;

Fig. is a vertical section taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a Vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 11 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation showing details of the scraper adjustment with the notched handle removed to show parts otherwise concealed;

Fig. 11 is a detail, vertical section through the composition roller and support therefor for feeding printing fluid from the vertical disk to the distributing rollers;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing the main inking roll and support;

Fig. 13 is a detail showing one of the distributing rollers and support; and.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line I l-I4 of Fig. 1. The device has a printing head I carrying a die 2 on its cylindrical periphery. The head I is removably secured to a vertical shaft 3, provided with anti-friction bearings 4 in a supporting cas- 1 ing 5. A long hub 6 on the head I projects upward along the shaft 3 and has rigidly fixed on its upper end a gear 'I. Pivoted on a pin 8 in a suitable recess in the upper end of the shaft 3 is a pair of dogs 9. These dogs are normally thrust apart into engagement with the gear 1 by a small coiled spring I0. Driving connection between the shaft 3 and head I is established by a suitable key ta (Fig. 4). By this arrangement, to permit removal of the head I and gear 1 from the shaft 3, it 2. is only necessary to compress the spring l0 while moving the dogs 9 inward out of engagement with the upper surface 01' the gear.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the periphery of the head I projects at one side from a casing H through an opening l2 and the periphery of the gear 1 above the projecting portion of the head I is contained in a small projecting portion Ila of the casing H. Pieces of lumber I3 to be marked are advanced along suitable supports or skids I4 by a conveyor of well-known type. One suitable arrangement of conveyor and holding devices for the lumber is illustrated in the co-pending application of Henry H. Payzant, Serial Number 579,215, now Patent No. 1,966,396. Portions of a similar conveyor are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 13 wherein a conveyor chain I5 is shown. This chain carries suitable lugs of well known construction for engaging the pieces of lumber l3 and is trained over driving sprocket 40 wheels, like the wheel I 6, fixed on a power-driven shaft H. A sprocket wheel I8 is revoluble on the shaft l1 and adjacent to the face of this sprocket wheel [8 is mounted a toothed segment I!!! which is keyed to the shaft IT. A bolt 20 is pivotally supported on the sprocket wheel l8 and adapted to be placed in engagement with the segment [9 between any selected pairs of teeth thereon. The adjustment thus afforded makes it possible to change the angular position of the wheel l6 relative to the shaft ll driving the chain l5, with the result that the timing of the printing mechanism may be changed to adjust the position of the impression on the ends of pieces of lumber of different widths.

My improved printing mechanism is driven by a chain 2| trained on the sprocket wheel l8 and arranged to drive a small sprocket wheel 22 fixed on a horizontal shaft 23. This shaft 23 has suitable bearings at opposite sides of a casing 24 within which a beveled pinion 25 is keyed to the shaft 23. The pinion 25 drives a large beveled gear 26 (Figs. 6 and 9) and, meshing with the gear 26, is a beveled pinion 21 secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft 3 for driving the printing head I. The gear 26 is fixed on a horizontal shaft 28 which is supported in a projecting bearing 29 and carries on its end, outside of the casing 24, a small sprocket wheel 30. As best shown in Fig. 2, a sprocket chain 3| is trained on the sprocket wheel 30 and arranged to drive a cam holder or disk 32 having a suitable toothed periphery to engage said chain. This cam disk 32 is keyed to a horizontal shaft 33 having bearings supported on opposite walls of a reservoir 35 for ink or other printing fluid. Fast on the shaft 33 within the reservoir 35 is an ink supply disk 36 having a conical back face 31 and a flat, vertical front face 38 from which the printing fluid is fed. The printing fluid is normally retained at about the level indicated by the dotted line 39 in Fig. 6.

From the upper periphery of the disk 36, the printing fluid is fed by a composition roller 46 arranged to intermittently engage the vertical face 38 of said disk. Details of the support for the roller 49 are shown in Fig. 11. A vertical shaft 4| has the roller 40 secured to its lower end and is freely journaled in anti-friction bearings carried by a pair of arms 42. These arms are pivotally supported on a vertical pin 43 (Figs. 3, 5 and 6). To actuate the roller 46 from a position in contact with the disk 36 to a position in contact with a distributing roller .4 and out of contact with the disk 36, a rod 45 is secured at one end to ears 46 integral with the arms 42 and at its other end carries mechanism to be actuated by a series of cam elements 4 secured to the face of the cam disk 32 (Figs. 2 and '7). The rod 45 passes freely through perforations in upstanding flanges integral with arms 48 and 49. A collar 56 is fixed on the rod 45 at one side of a flange 5| on the arm 49, and a spring 52 is confined on said rod to engage the opposite side of the flange 5!, suitable nuts 53 being threaded on the extremity of the rod to adjust the compression of the spring. The arm 49 carries a roller 54 to engage the back face of the disk 32 and the arm 49 carries a roller 55 to engage the cam elements 41 and front face of said disk. Connecting the arms 48 and 49 together, is a coiled spring 56. One end of the spring 56 is secured to an adjusting screw 5! having suitable lock nuts forming an abutment for the arm 49.

By this arrangement, the rollers 54 and 55 are held in contact with opposite faces of the cam disk 32 and separation of said arms against the action of the spring is permitted when the roller 55 is actuated by one of the cam elements 41. As the disk 32 rotates the cam elements 41 successively actuate the roller 55 and arm @9 to draw the rod 45 in such direction as to move the roller 40 into contact with the front face 38 of the disk 36. Upon movement of the cam elements 4? out of contact with the roller 55, the spring 56 actuates the rod 45 (through the con nections therewith) to move the roller 40 out of contact with the face 31 and into contact with the distributing roller 44, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5.

As shown in Figs. 2 and '7, each of the cam elements 46 consists of a short, arcuate plate removably secured to the face of the disk 32 which is formed with a circular groove to receive said plates. The groove is concentric with the shaft 33 and a clamp ring 58 is arranged to overlap the several cam elements and removably hold them in place. The ring 58 is held in contact with the cam elements by suitable screws 59. A wide range of adjustment of the frequency of oscillations imparted to the roller 40 is obtainable by this arrangement of the cam elements 41, as it will be evident that the number and angular positions of the elements may be varied at will. Shorter or longer elements may be substituted for those illustrated if further variation is desired.

To convey the printing fluid from the roller 44 to the die 2 on the head I, a large composition roll 66 is disposed in contact with said roller and die. As best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 12, the composition roller 60 is secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 6| and said shaft is provided with anti-friction bearings supported in a pair of arms 62. These arms are rigidly connected together and have a vertical pivot support consisting of a large pin 63 fixed at its base, as best shown in Fig. 6, in a boss 64 and having a. bearing 65, projecting from the main casing wall. Ears 66 project from opposite sides of a hub connecting the arms 62 and these ears are bolted to similar ears formed on a hub 61 integral with an arm 63. This arm has attached to its otherwise free end a rod 69 (Figs. 4 and 6) which projects from the casing 5 and carries a spring '16 to thrust the composition roll 5E) against the printing head. This spring I is normally retained under compression on the rod 69 and has an adjustable abutment for one end consisting of an externally threaded tube H. The tube 1! is threaded in the casing and the rod 69 is slidable in a suitable bearing in the outer end of said tube. To limit inward movement of the rod 59, as in case the head I is removed, suitable lock nuts are threaded on the outer end of said rod.

Composition rollers 13, i4, i5 and 16, of different diameters are disposed in contact with the periphery of the roll 60 to properly distribute the printing fiuid thereon. As shown in detail in Fig. 13, each of these distributing rollers is mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft having bearings in a support formed with a pair of projecting ears 11. Each pair of ears TI is pivotally connected to the arms 62. The ears T1 for supporting the rollers 44, I3 and 14 are pivotally connected to extensions 18 on the arm 62. Small coiled springs 1!) connect the several bearings for the rollers 44, l3, l4, l5 and E6 to the central bearing for the vertical shaft 6| so as to retain said rollers in resilient contact with the periphery of the roll 60. As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, small pinions 86 are disposed in mesh with a gear 3| fixed at the upper end of the shaft ii to drive the several rollers 44, 13, i4, and '16. These pinions 80 have different pitch diameters to correspond with the diameters of the several rollers driven thereby. The gear 35 is driven by the gear 1 secured to the shaft 3.

To limit the thickness of the film of printing fluid on the face of the disk 36, scraper blades 82 and 83 are provided (see Figs. 3, 6 and 8). The blade 82 is disposed to make contact with the conical face 31 of the disk and the blade 83 is mounted adjacent to the vertical face 38 of said disk. To support the blades 82 and 83, a substantially horizontal plate 84 projects in through an opening 85 in a wall of the casing. This plate 85 is integral with a plate 86 bolted to the outer surface of the casing. The inner end of the plate 8 is bifurcated, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and upon the upper surface of said plate are formed guideways 81 and 88 for the plates 82 and 83 respectively. These guideways extend obliquely to the faces 3'! and 38 of the disk 36 and the blades 82 and 83 are formed to slidably engage said guideways. To confine the blades on the supports, screws 89 and 99 are threaded in the plate 8 and extend in slots 9! in the blades. The blade 83 may be actuated along the guideway 81 by a screw 92 having a handle 93 outside of the casing. The screw 92 is threaded in a suitable tapped hole in the plate 86 and its inner end is arranged to revolubly engage the blade 83 in a T-shaped slot formed in said blade. The periphery of the handle 93 has a series of notches therein to receive a spring-pressed detent 94. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 10, the detent 94 is pivoted on a pin 95 having a pair of spaced bearings 96 integral with the plate 88. A spring 91 is confined on a small bolt 98, extending through a perforation in the detent 94, and is held under compression to urge the detent against the handle 93 by a wing nut 99 threaded on an end of the bolt 93. The opposite end of the bolt 98 is secured to the bearings 96 by a pivot pin I99. By this arrangement, the detent 94 may be moved out of engagement with the periphery of the handle 93, by manipulation against the action of the spring 91, when it is desired to change the adjustment of the blade 83.

In use, the blade 82 is secured in proper adjusted position by tightening the screw 99. The blade 83, however, is left free for movement along the guide 81 by suitable adjustment of the screw 89 in the slot 9!. This permits movement of the blade 93 under the action of the screw 92 and any desired thickness of film of ink on the disk 36 is obtainable from the exterior of the casing by suitable manipulation of the handle 93 and detent 94.

In operation the shaft 11 is driven by a motor through suitable connections (not shown) to drive the lumber conveyor chain l5 and sprocket wheel l8 for actuating the printing mechanism in timed relation to each other. Pieces of lumber !3 are advanced along the skids M by the lugs on the chains IS in such position that the end of each piece is brought in contact with the rotating die 2 on the printing head I. Suitable mechanism, such as that described in the copending application for Lumber mark ing machines, of even date herewith, is employed toretain the pieces of lumber against movement out of contact with the die during the printing operation. The spacing of the lugs on the chains I?) has a fixed relation to the spacing of the dies on the head i so that the impression is placed in uniform position on the end of each piece of lumber. Proper placing of the impression is secured by adjustment of the bolt 26 in engagement with the teeth on the segment 59. Thus the impression may be placed centrally, or otherwise, as desired, on the ends or sides of boards of diiierent widths as they are conveyed rapidly along a substantially horizontal support.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A printing device for lumber having in combination a rotary head arranged to print on a substantially vertical surface of lumber, a res- 5 ervoir, a disk arranged to be partially submerged in printing fluid in said reservoir, an inking roll in contact with the periphery of said head, a plurality of distributing rollers of different diameters engaging the periphery of said inking 10 roll, means for positively rotating said rollers and roll in timed relation to said head and means for transmitting printing fluid from said disk to said roll.

2. A printing device for lumber having in combination a printing head revoluble about a vertical axis to print on a substantially vertical surface oi! lumber, a reservoir, a disk arranged to be partially submerged in printing fluid in said reservoir, an inking roll in contact with said head, 20 a plurality of distributing rollers engaging the periphery of said inking roll, means for positively rotating said rollers and roll in timed relation to said head and means for transmitting printing fluid from said disk to said roll. 25

3. A printing device for lumber having in combination a rotary printing head arranged to print on a substantially vertical surface of lumber, a reservoir, a disk arranged to be partially submerged in printing fluid in said reservoir, an 30 inking roll mounted above said reservoir in contact with the periphery of said head, a plurality of distributing rollers engaging the periphery of said inking roll, a train of gears mounted above said head, roll and rollers for positively rotating said rollers and roll in timed relation to said head and means for transmitting printing fluid from said disk to said roll.

4. A printing device for lumber having in combination a vertical drive shaft, a printing head In removably secured to said shaft, a gear rigidly secured to said head above the same on said shaft, an inking roll revolubly mounted in engagement with the periphery of said head, a series of distributing rollers engaging the periphery of said 45 inking roll and a series of gears severally connected to said rollers and roll for rotating the same, one of the gears of said series being in mesh with said first mentioned gear to establish driving connection therewith.

5. A printing device for lumber having in combination a vertical shaft, a printing head secured to said shaft, a gear secured to said head, a series of distributing rollers for printing fluid, an arm, bearings for said distributing rollers sup- 65 ported on said arm, gearing for positively actuating said rollers carried by said arm, a pivotal support for said arm, a spring for actuating said arm toward said head to retain one of said rollers in contact with said head and for retaining 60 said gearing in driving connection with said first mentioned gear and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

6. A printing device for lumber having in combination a, rotary printing head, a roll for supply- 65 ing printing fiuid to the periphery of said head, an arm movably supporting said roll, a pivotal support for said arm, a series of distributing rollers of different diameters, means movably suporting said rollers on said arm, resilient means 70 for retainingsaid rollers in contact with said roll and resilient means for retaining said roll in contact with said head.

'7. A printing device for lumber having in combination a rotary printing head, a roll for sup- [5 plying printing fluid to the periphery of said. head, an arm movably supporting said roll, a pivotal support for said arm, a series of distributing rollers, means movably supporting said rollers on said arm, means for retaining said rollers in. contact with said roll, means for actuating said arm to move said roll into contact with said headv and driving connections between said roll and. rollers.

8. A printing device having in combination. a printing head, a reservoir for printing fluid, a horizontal shaft, a disk fixed on said shaft and, adapted to be partially submerged in printing fluid in said reservoir, a fluid feed roller, a sup-- port for said roller permitting movement of the same to and out of contact with said disk, means for delivering the printing fiuid from said roller to said head and means for actuating said roller comprising a cam wheel secured to said shaft, a plurality of separate cam segments removably' secured to a vertical face of said cam wheel, power driven means for rotating said shaft, means for securing said cam segments in selected, angularpositions on said cam wheel independently of each other and connections secured to said support for said roller and movable by said cam segments to actuate said support and roller.

9'. A printing device having in combination a printing head, a rotary disk arranged to be partially submerged in printing fluid, a fluid feed roller, a support for said roller permitting movement of the same to and from contact with said rotary disk, means for delivering printing fluid from said roller to said head and means for actuating said roller comprising a revoluble cam wheel mounted in spaced parallel relation to said disk, a plurality of independently removable cam segments mounted on said wheel, means for securing said cam segments in selected, different, angular positions on said wheel independently of each other, power driven means for rotating said disk and wheel, a second roller arranged to be actuated by said cam segments and connections between said second roller and first mentioned roller support.

10. A printing device having in combination a printing head, a rotary member arranged to receive a coating of printing fluid, a fluid feed roller, a support for said roller permitting movement of the same to and from contact with said rotary member, means for delivering the printing fluid from said roller to said head and means for actuating said roller comprising, a cam shaft, a disk secured to said shaft, a ring mounted on a face of said disk, a plurality of cam members adapted to be 'frictionally engaged by said ring to removably secure them to said disk, means for clamping said ring in engagement with said cam members to secure them, in selected different :angular positions on said disk, means for rotating :said shaft, and connections secured to said support for said feed roller and movable by said cam members successively to actuate said support for said feed roller.

11. A printing device having in combination a printing head, a rotary member arranged to receive a coating of printing fluid, a fluid feed roller, a support for said roller permitting movement of the same to and from contact with said rotary member, means for delivering printing fluid from said roller to said head and means for, actuating said roller comprising a revoluble disk, a plurality of cam members mounted on a face of said disk, means for rotating said disk, arms pivotally supported near opposite faces of said disk, rollers carried by said arm to contact with opposite faces of said disk respectively, one of said last mentioned rollers being in position to be actuated by said cam members, a spring connecting said arms to retain said roller in contact with said disk, and a rod connecting said support for said first mentioned roller to one of .said arms.

12. A printing device having in combination a reservoir for printing fluid, a disk adapted to' be partially submerged in printing fluid in said reservoir, a scraper blade arranged to engage a face of said disk, a guide for said blade extending obliquely toward said face, said blade being movably obliquely toward said face on said guide and means for securing said blade in adjusted positions on said guide.

13. A printing device having in combination a reservoir for printing fluid, a disk adapted to be partially submerged in printing fluid in said reservoir, a scraper blade adjacent to a face of said disk, a guide for said blade extending at an acute angle to the face of said disk and adjusting means extending out through the wall of said reservoir for actuating said blade along said guide.

14. A printing device having in combination a reservoir for printing fluid, a disk adapted to be partially submerged in printing fluid in said reservoir, said disk having fiat and conical faces respectively, scraper blades arranged adjacent to said faces respectively, guides for said blades arranged to permit movement of the blades bliquely toward said faces respectively and means for securing said blades in adjusted positions on said guides.

HENRY H. PAYZANT. 

